I've begun to write narrative histories on my direct ancestors.
I will start to annotate with sources as part of my ongoing personal work. I do have sources for most of what I say here.
This is my paternal Grandfather, George Stanley Breen.
George Stanley Breen's History as compiled by his grandson Barton James Breen February 2022
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George Stanley Breen Circa 1960
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George Stanley Breen, Passport Photo circa late 1950s
Prior to this history being compiled Barton created a Military History that is a separate document. This history will incorporate some of this information but the military history should be used to supplement it independently.
Embedded Links within this document will go to documents or web pages with more information on the item linked.
Early Life and Parent's History
When George Stanley Breen was born on March 28, 1896, in Comber, Tilbury West Township (now Lakeshore), Essex County, Ontario, his father, Jones, was 34 and his mother, Agnes, was 26. George Stanley Breen was the 4th child and the second son of Jones and Agnes.
Jones Breen was born in County Armagh, Ireland (now Northern Ireland).
This was part of the Barony of Oneilland West. The Townland he was born in was Clonroot (Click for more information). Some Breen family lore says that they came from Battle Hill (or Bottle Hill) which was another townland that bordered on Clonroot. Breen History is also tied to Drumard (Jones) Townland which borders Clonroot as well.
His family was affiliated with the Church of Ireland (Anglican) and in Kilmore Parish. It was located about half way between Portadown and the City of Armagh, and the nearest village was Rich Hill. They were primarily associated with the Rich Hill Church of Ireland (Irish branch of the Anglican Church). Anyone seeking to do research on the Breen Family in Ireland will find this information essential as Breen is a common name.
He emigrated with his family to Canada in 1872 at the age of 9. Jones' father, William Breen was the initial immigrant of the Breen Family to Canada in 1868. He was a linen weaver in County Armagh in what today is referred to as Craigavon and would have lived on a small plot where the family probably had a personal garden and worked in this cottage industry. Linen Weaving was impacted by the advent of the industrial age which combined with the aftermath of the Potato Famine and overpopulation in the region motivated many to leave Ireland for Canada and the United States. Jones would have grown up in this rural area of County Armagh and would have had clear memories as a child of Ireland, before Ireland was divided.
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| William Breen Circa 1900 |
William Breen
William initially came to Essex County, Ontario, Canada in 1868, just after Canadian confederation in 1867. He lived at a farm with a family with the last name of Jackson and as mentioned above, brought his family, including Jones to Canada in 1872.
Family lore says he paid for first-class passage for his family but that there was a mixup that resulted in them coming over at a lower class. He was listed as a work-hand on the Jackson farm in 1871, but it's possible either initially or eventually he worked with the Canada Southern Railroad project in Essex County.
A note as well, that in the Irish Townlands of Clonroot and neighbouring townland of Drumard-Jones there were families with the last name of Jackson. I don't know for sure but I think it likely there were connections between the Breens and Jacksons that were of the nature of good friends or possibly family. This was typical of that time as people tended to emigrate and settle together in similar proximity to the areas they left and maintain family and friendship connections which provided a sense of belonging and community. William Breen's Home was at Lot 8, Concession 9 in the township of Tilbury West (now Lakeshore Township, in Essex County, Ontario, Canada.
Jones Breen
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| Jones Breen Circa 1890 |
Jones Breen established his household across the way from his father.
Agnes Sadd
Agnes Sadd was of English descent. Her parents, John Corston Sadd and Emma Louisa Ringer (Sadd) were from Norfolk England and London respectively, although John's father had emigrated to the US when he was a young boy to Avon, Ohio.
John Corston Sadd was well educated through a boarding School in Ashtabula, Ohio. John Corston Sadd returned to Fincham, Norfolk, England with his father, where he attempted to establish a Swedenborgian congregation from acquaintances and friends. Ultimately this effort failed and John became a School Master in a thatch manufacturing furniture concern run by his Uncle, which took female students in for room, board and education in return for their labour. It was considered quite progressive for the day as it advanced the education and social standing of women in a time when their options were otherwise limited.
John eventually married Emma Louisa Ringer, who was a student of his, and then he returned to the US with her through New Orleans right at the beginning of the Civil War. He and his wife made their way up the Mississippi river to Missouri.
Agnes Sadd was born in 1869. She had an older sister, Bertha, born in 1864. Shortly after Agnes was born, her family relocated from Dallas, Webster County, Missouri in the US to Essex County, Ontario, Canada. The Sadd Family appears in both the 1870 US Census and the 1871 Canadian Census, so this move and it's timing is very well documented.
Agnes had a difficult life with the loss of her mother and several siblings while she herself was very young. She married Jones on Christmas Day in 1888 when she was 19 years old.
Agnes Sadd later in life.
The Jones Breen - Agnes Sadd Family
George Stanley Breen's birth in 1896 found him on the family farm (it was leased at that time rather than owned) with 3 older siblings.
His siblings and their dates of birth were:
Edna Pearl Breen 1889
William Howard Breen 1891
Olive Ethel Breen 1893
George Stanley Breen 1896 (My Paternal Grandfather)
Wesley John Breen 1898
Annie Breen 1900 (Born after father Jones Breen died)
Large families were not at all uncommon for that time, and it's likely that Stanley's (he preferred his middle name or "Stan" and this was a common thing at that time and in his family) would have followed the basic pattern of farm life at the turn of the century except that his father, Jones Breen, died on 19 December, 1899 of Typhoid Fever. Family lore recalls that Jones was working on his farm and did some work shortly before this in a ditch with stagnant water which is where he contracted the disease.
Jones was apparently well respected in the community and had a reputation of being a hard worker who was putting together a farm that would have served his family well had he survived.
Jones' Obituary in the local Comber Herald on December 21, 1899 2 days after he died read:
"Mr. Jones Breen, Lot 8. Con 9, Tilbury West, died of typhoid fever, Tuesday afternoon. Deceased was the second son of Mr. Wm. Breen, and was a strong, healthy young man still in the thirties. He was a progressive, hard-working fellow. His farm is in excellent shape, and in a few years he would, had he been spared, have had a fine home. Mr Breen leaves a wife and five young children to mourn the early departure of a kind-hearted husband and parent."
The land may have been held together from an original land purchase by William Breen and Jones leased from his father. The address of Jones' farm was Lot 8 Concession 8 of Tilbury West (now Lakeshore.)
Jones, incidentally, didn't leave his widow with 5 children. There were 6 as Agnes was pregnant with her 3rd daughter Annie. George Stanley Breen was just 3 years old, so he likely had very little recollection of his father. His oldest sibling was just 10 years old and so Agnes was left in a very difficult situation. She had family however, in the form of her father and older sister Bertha who had married a man by the name of James Pennington, and Jones' family was there and no doubt pitched in to help. Members of the community commonly helped each other out in situations like this as well.
The Victor Mailloux - Agnes Sadd (Breen) Family
All of that not-withstanding, Agnes was still in a very challenging situation with young children not able to help carry adult responsibilities for a farm's upkeep. After a period of grieving and adjustment following the death of her husband and the birth of her 6th child, Agnes connected with a French Canadian farmer who was a recent widower named Victor Thomas Mailloux.
Victor's wife had died in 1898 of tuberculosis. He had 2 daughters, one of which died in infancy. His older daughter, Melvina lived with Victor's parents.
Victor and Agnes married in 1902 when Stanley was about 6 years old. Melvina doesn't appear to have come with her father which is understandable, when you consider that she already was established with her grandparents, spoke French and was Roman Catholic. Victor was reported to have married Agnes with the understanding that he would convert to Anglicanism, and speak English in the home. He moved into the farm Jones had been establishing and took over the responsibilities of tending for the farm and caring for a large family.
George Stanley Breen would have just been beginning in school and likely had a typical farm life for a child involving studies, church (St George's Anglican Church in Comber), chores and had built in playmates in his multiple siblings which then began to increase with half-brothers and sisters as follows:
Walter Thomas Mailloux 1902
Emma Louisa Mailloux 1904
Raymond Mailloux 1906 (died at 10 months) (Stanley was 10 years old then)
Lawrence Edward Mailloux 1907
The Breen children retained their father's surname, although Annie appears to have at times to have taken the last name of Mailloux or perhaps the publications where that happened presumed her last name based on the names of her Step Father and Mother who went by Mailloux. Over time the children of Victor and Agnes anglicized their last names to Mayhew.
By all accounts, Victor was reasonably successful as a Farmer and picked up where Jones Breen had left off and laboured to make the farm productive. There's evidence that he was embraced and accepted by the general community. He had cordial relations with the Breen family, who lived in the immediate area of his adopted family and it's new additions. He nominated Thomas Breen (Jones' younger brother along with another Brother Henry Breen who seconded the nomination) in 1911 for Tilbury West Council.
I never heard my father speak very much about his grandparents. He mentioned that his grandmother was sickly. He never mentioned his step-grandfather, and he did not hold French Canadians in very high regard. The family farm ended up remaining with a Mayhew descendent. It's possible perhaps that there were some hard feelings over how this happened, but I don't recall ever hearing these things stated openly.
In 1911, George Stanley Breen would have been about 15 years old.
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| George Stanley Breen 1911 |
Also in that group photo was his Mother, Agnes Sadd (Breen) (Mailloux)
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Agnes Clara Sadd 1911
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| Victor Mailloux 1911 |
Victor Mailloux, his Step-Father was in that photo too. The entire picture was this: (enhanced)
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| Breen Family 1911 |
The group photo was apparently a family reunion or gathering in 1911. William Breen, the family patriarch died in the same year as this picture.
There's not a lot of information to be found of Stan's childhood beyond what I've presented here. There is a newspaper clipping on Victoria Day in 1913 which shows him at age 17 visiting Windsor. It appears that he was a typical Canadian farm boy who worked hard.
The Great War later known as World War I
1915 would see this change with the beginning of what was called the "Great War" then and what is known as World War 1, now. I hadn't had much indication of any surrounding story regarding Stan's enlistment. Interestingly enough, there is a Newspaper article from November 12, 1981 (years after Stan's death, that references him in the memory of a man who says they enlisted together. The man's name was Earl Roadhouse. He went by "Roady" The exact quote is:
"He remembers the day in 1915 when he and two chums, Stan Breen and Gord McDermott, - decided to sign up. No they hadn't been following the accounts of the war in the papers all that closely. And they hadn't given a whole lot of thought to signing up. But there was "a lot of hollering about fighting for freedom" and to a bunch of lads 19 or 20 years old, that sounded like something. So they went to the doctor's office and got medicals and then walked down the street and had the justice of the peace sign them up.They wound up in London for a bit of basic training."
A great deal of detail regarding Stan's military history is contained in another narrative, referenced above, that I wrote many years ago after receiving his WWI records. I give a very brief summary here to maintain continuity and then move into the years following the war. Since that time, I've come into possession of a letter he wrote to the Canadian Pension board in 1959 that gives some of his highlights and remembrances.I'll add a few of those in this brief (to me) recollection.
Stan went through his basic training with monthly visits back home until he shipped to England on the eve of his 20th birthday. He was a part of the Overseas Expeditionary Force, Canadian Mounted Rifle Corp Regiment 226061. M.D. 2. Depot Regt. C.M.R. 4th Battalion.
Stan contracted the German Measles during his trip to England and wound up in quarantine for several months before being released. He engaged in training for several months and his background as a farmer who handled horses led to him doing some training in military horse care and he wound up being assigned to a Major Powers as a batman. A batman cared for an officer's horse and was a personal assistant for running messages for that office.
In retrospect, it was a relatively "safe" assignment which would have allowed for Stan to remain indefinitely in England assisting Major Powers without immediately putting himself at risk. Stan was not content however to wait out the war. Expressing impatience, he looked for an opportunity to be moved to France despite his commanding officer's strong advice to remain in his service. In September of 1916, Stan joined the 14th Battalion in France and wound up at Vimy Ridge in the days before the military engagement there that was made famous in Canadian History.
Stan engaged in routine assignments that put him and his group at risk on that front as a work detail for a few days and then being moved back for several days to recover during which time he engaged in normal military drills and kit inspections before being moved back to start the cycle over again.
Stan's time on the front lines was relatively short as he was injured severely on November 28, 1916 near midnight when a potato masher grenade went off near a parapet, in his face. Private Breen was rendered unconscious and didn't awake until 2 days later. His letter states that his parents were contacted and told he had died and this wasn't corrected until a few days later. This aligns with his daughter Ann Breen's recollection that she shared with me that she was told that he was presumed dead and it wasn't until later when somebody saw movement that he was stretchered out for further care.
He remained in treatment for several months until in March of 1917 at which time, he volunteered as a steam engineer to work on gas engines. This experience resulted in 5 weeks of training and assignment to a labour team. It was at this time that the 6 R.E. Forestry company was being formed and Stan's letter speaks of his seeking advice on what to do and apparently the advice was to attach to the Forestry Company doing labour behind the scenes to provide lumber and charcoal to the war effort. Stan did so and then learned shortly thereafter that if he had remained unattached he would have been sent to England and then home, something that at that time apparently, Private Breen would have welcomed.
Most of Private Breen's remaining service was in the labour teams although he speaks in his letter where he was temporarily called up and was at Vimy Ridge again in July of 1917. He actually was in the trenches for 4 days as part of a relief battalion despite his injuries which included a damaged eye he couldn't see out of and damaged hearing. He speaks of exposure to mustard gas which made it difficult to see.
He remained in the Canadian Forestry Service following that until December of 1918 when he was among the first released at the end of the war.
Some initial paperwork delays kept him in England and then in Wales until he returned home to Canada in March of 1919. He was then discharged on a disability pension in May of 1919.
Return to Canada and Marriage to Elizabeth Effie Whittal
A general statement is in order here as to the situation that Stan Breen found himself in upon his return to Canada. He was significantly disabled due to his injuries which included an eye that no longer functioned and hearing that was greatly diminished in one ear. Further, he suffered according to his discharge papers with tintinnabulation from these injuries and was unable to focus or concentrate on reading material for any extended period of time without developing headaches. He was provided with a pension for his service in view of his injuries of 42% of a standard pension. This was later raised many years later to 60% and then later on to over 80%.
The issue that wasn't all that well understood at that time was that Private Breen also suffered to a significant degree with what today would be called Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). In his letter Private Breen referred to it as "nerves" or "nervousness." It impacted his ability to work for the rest of his life. He worked many different jobs during his life but he was limited in his ability to stick with something long term due to time outs for medical care, nervous episodes or breakdowns, and the challenges of the condition itself making it difficult for him to focus and sustain effort in these directions. Society in general didn't understand this and so it appears he was mostly quiet about his condition and challenges and suffered in silence, while doing the best he was capable of doing.
Upon his return home, Stan returned to reside with his parents (he referred to Agnes and Victor both as "his parents" so it appears that he had some level of relationship with his step-father. His mailing address was Box 201 Comber upon his return and it appears that he returned to his home with Agnes and Victor. He received War Service Badge Class A 84456 and War Service Badge Class B 52932 upon discharge.
It appears that Stan went to work quickly and established himself as a contractor manufacturing and installing brick tiles on farms to assist with irrigation and water run off. It's possible that it was in this context that he met Elizabeth Effie Whittal whose family was from Wheatley, about 28 km away from Stan's home in Comber.
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| Elizabeth Effie Whittal circa 1920 |
Elizabeth Effie Whittal's family had its roots in England, through her father Alexander Whittal who died a young man when Elizabeth was young. Her mother's name was Catherine "Cassie" Johnson who was born in Ireland.
Alexander Whittal, Father of Elizabeth Effie Whittal (Breen)
Catherine "Cassie" Johnson (Whittal), Mother of Elizabeth Effie Whittal
According to best family recollection, which is limited, Stan met Lizzie when he was working on a project and they married quickly in 1920, their first son Stanley Lloyd George Breen was born later that year. 2 daughters followed soon thereafter and a 2nd son several years thereafter.
Stanley Lloyd George Breen 1920
Pauline Blanche Breen 1921
Angela Grace Breen 1923
James William Breen 1934
Stanley's Marriage License stated that he was a "Brick Manufacturer". His address in 1921 per that year's census was Lot 12, Township Drive 2, so it appears that with his new family Stanley also established his own household and indeed on that Census he was the Head of the Household.
He possibly farmed in addition to his brick manufacturing business although it was not uncommon for Stanley to travel a significant distance to work projects and on occasion, as will be mentioned, he even brought his family with him.
Stanley and Lizzie also are listed in their religious affiliation as Methodist, which marks a change for Stanley who was raised Anglican. Although it is interesting to note that Stanley's entry papers into the Canadian Armed Forces noted he was Church of England (Anglican) but Methodist had been marked and then scratched out prior. It's hard to know if that was reflective of Stanley correcting himself or if someone else filled out the form and made the error.
Local newspapers in that era had society update pages and there are a few entries for this Breen family visiting family in Windsor (perhaps Stanley's Aunt Bertha Sadd Pennington, who lived there.) Other trips included to Chatham, which was not very far away, of course.
Loss of Eye
Not so pleasant to recall was that in 1922, Stanley continued to be treated for his war injuries. His left eye wasn't functional and he'd lost most of his hearing in his left ear. In March and April of that year he spent 2 weeks in the hospital in Victoria Hospital in London, Ontario followed by another visit and stay shortly thereafter. Following this he went in June to Toronto for additional treatment. This is likely where the eye was removed.
Stanley had a glass eye for the rest of his life following this. By the time he was back in Canada and settled he continued to need care for his war injuries. It no doubt made building a career very hard. Contracts and jobs were hard to hold with constant interruptions. Add to that the difficulties with "nerves" and episodes of depression and it's hard not to have a strong sense of compassion for how difficult his life was especially at a time when his family was growing and the demands of that family were increasing.
Newspaper social announcements in the time following this mention Stan taking his young family with him to Pickering for business purposes. This was a significant trip as Pickering is on the other side of Toronto. Ann and Pauline both mentioned remembering staying at a hotel for an extended time when their father worked in Pickering and the newspaper records bear it out. Later letters from Stan indicate that this was tied to training in this profession.
The challenge to maintain his career in the irrigation tile business finally caught up with him unfortunately and he had to sell out in 1923. He stated his eyesight and the difficulty in being able to see well enough to level installations was the reason he had to make these decisions.
In 1924, Stanley worked for a short period of time with Ford in Detroit to run sewing machines, and then moved to Ford in Windsor to run a lathe. His personal recollections note that he was unable to work shifts. No reason is stated but it likely had to do with his disabilities and perhaps difficulties driving at night.
In 1928 and 1929, he ran into the same problems with his work. This appears to have been a constant in Stan's work experience. He was willing to give things a try despite his past history and in spite of his disabilities. He didn't quit, but he clearly was seriously undermined in his ability to hold steady employment.
He also worked toward his personal dream of farming for himself.
He bought a farm after leaving Ford in about 1929. He continued to do treatment as needed for his war injuries, but most of it now was because of the residual issues of "nerves" that he struggled with, unable to put a more specific name to it and with seemingly not a lot of understanding and support from others. He suffered silently and at the same time, his wife and mother of his children, Lizzie carried a large burden in the background with the children and then later helping to do the farming work too.
The Great Depression
The world began to change in significant ways in 1929 with the advent of the Great Depression. Essex county in Ontario was not spared these difficulties.
He took a job with a company called Conner Products in 1929 and by his account he began to make "big money". He rose in this position as a district representative until 1932 when he again hit a wall in large part tied to the challenge of driving 800 to 1,000 miles a week. His value to the company was demonstrated after he left, as that company offered him a position as District Superintendent with a generous earning plan.
He turned the position down, due to the continued reliance on driving long distances and having to relocate to Toronto.
There's not much happening in the newspaper accounts until 1932 at which time Stanley Breen is mentioned as holding the position of Secretary Treasurer of Canadian Legion Leamington Branch, No. 84. If there were any doubt as to his being known and respected within his community, add to that in December of 1932 Stanley was nominated to the Township Council of Tilbury West. He won the position.
Religious Conversion to Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada
It was about 1933 that something else significant happened in Stanley's life. His daughter Pauline's testimony says she was 12 when she was saved. Stanley followed suit soon after that, Family history states that there was a very significant change in behavior in Stan's life. Prior to this Stanley was part of the Anglican Church, the Methodist Church and the United Church of Canada. These were mainline Protestant Churches with deep cultural and societal ties.
Shortly following this Stanley Breen was ordained as a lay worker with the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada in 1934. This was a Charismatic denomination that was often referred to as "Full Gospel." It found its roots in what was known as the Azusa Street Revival in the US. While some forms of Pentecostalism were non-Trinitarian, this was a Trinitarian form of Pentecostalism that believed that the Charismata or gifts mentioned in the New Testament such as prophetic words, the gift of tongues, the translation of utterances in tongues etc. were still active and to be practiced in the modern church.
Stan and Lizzie's decisions to move to this form of Christian Spirituality were not met with great enthusiasm by all others in the family. It's related in family lore that Stan's mother Agnes, was not particularly happy with this decision. Others referred to this form of Christianity and its followers as "Holy Rollers", and it wasn't considered a compliment.
Both daughters of Lizzie and Stanley, Pauline and Angela were lifetime members following this of the PAOC. Pauline eventually went to Bible School where she met and married James Stanley Stevenson who was a full-time minister in the PAOC. Pauline herself was also ordained and served within that organization.
In addition to this change in religious practice, 1934 marked the birth of my father, James William Breen. He came into a family very much in the midst of several transitions.
Loss of Family Farm
Stanley appears at this time to primarily be a farmer living in Comber, his hometown. His farm was not the farm of his father. That particular piece of land remained in the family through the Mayhews. In addition to his farming, Stanley was assigned as a lay worker in an unknown work, possibly a local Bible study or a church plant attempt meeting at a farm.
In July of 1936 there were ads placed by Stanley in the Windsor Star seeking to sell his 50 acre farm, where he grew tomatoes, beans, beets, corn, wheat and oats along with stock (animals) and implements (farming tools and equipment). Apparently this attempt to sell the property was not successful as another ad followed in August offering to trade the farm as a downpayment for a city property. This evidently was not successful either and family letters show that the farm was returned to the lender via a quit claim deed in mid-August of 1936 owing money, and back taxes. Apparently a deal was worked out for him to remain on the farm until mid 1937.
Stanley's assignment record with the PAOC shows that in 1936 he was placed as a lay pastor at Evangel Community Church in Chatham. Stanley continued, it appears to work a farming contract. In March of 1937 he ran another ad offering sale of a farming contract for hauling tomatoes and cucumbers along with a 1934 truck.
His personal records show that he worked in Chatham from 1937 to 1942 with Ryan Contracting company as a Foreman until the company closed operations during the height of WWII.
Driving Woes
Something else begins to appear periodically in the newspapers of this time as well with relation to George Stanley Breen and rather than mentioning it repeatedly, I'll deal with it collectively here. It was something of a source of family humour, but Stanley had a history and reputation for driving infractions. It's hardly difficult to understand why this might have been. Stanley only had his right eye and because of that he lacked depth perception and had limited peripheral vision on his right side. He often misjudged distance in braking and stopping resulting in going into an intersection, or judging when to stop. Add this to the challenges Stan faced in his life.
In 1938, Stan's assignment with the PAOC changed from Evangel Community Church to Charing-Cross, a small rural community near Chatham. Assignment updates with the PAOC were usually a reflection of what happened in the previous year, so this likely took place in 1937.
WWII - More War Years
Following this of course, Canada and much of the rest of the world entered into World War II. The Breen family appears to have moved to Dutton sometime in 1940. Dutton was a small town, just to the southeast of London. As seems to be the case whenever Stanley's occupations relocated him, the PAOC would update his assignment to wherever he was going anyway. He was still working with Ryan Contracting so this was likely to accommodate a building project he was overseeing.
There was no formal PAOC church in Dutton at the time, so his records show him at this time as an itinerant evangelist.
In 1941, the Breen family returned to Chatham and Stanley was assigned as a member of the Pastoral team at Evangel Community Church where he had served before. The Breen family lived on Wellington Street West in Chatham at this time in a home that no longer exists.
At this time as well, Stanley's eldest son Lloyd entered into service in the Canadian Armed Forces in 1942. He was eventually assigned to Italy where he was part of a Tank crew.
Unfortunately, Lloyd was soon to join his Father in experiencing that mysterious (at that time) ailment not spoken about or passed off as nerves. Lloyd returned from the war with serious injuries the extent of which were not fully understood at the time.
In an effort to improve his ability to provide for his family, Stan applied in 1943 for the newly created position of County Assessor for Essex County. He certainly brought some related experience as skills, as well as having been a Township Councilman in the past and a respected veteran in the community. Stan didn't make the cut of the final four unfortunately. Given his difficulties in managing the stress of full time employment due to his medical conditions, this is not surprising, but it likely was disappointing to him.
Stan worked from 1943 to 1947 with Chrysler.
Tragedy struck the Breen family in 1944 with the loss of Stan's sister Edna Pearl Breen (Forest) who died too young. She was the oldest sibling and had relocated to the other side of the border with her husband in Michigan.
As WWII came to a conclusion in 1945, Stan was moved in his lay pastor capacity from Evangel Community Church (PAOC) to Thamesville Community Church nearby. He returned about 1946 to Evangel Community Church as a supply Bible Teacher.
He returned in 1947 to construction work as construction superintendent which position he left in 1951.
Death of Parents
Stan's stepfather, Victor Mailloux (sometimes anglicized to Mayhew) died in 1949. It's hard to know what impact this may have had on Stan. He likely didn't remember any other father as he was so young when his biological father died. There's hints in some of the oral tradition and interviews I did with Stan's daughters, Angela (Ann) and Pauline, that difficulties arose in later years between Victor and Agnes. There's also hints of difficulties in Stan's family with Victor related to accusations of inappropriate behavior and anger over the line of ownership with the family farm.
On the other hand, I recall Mayhews involved with the Breen Family reunion growing up and I've heard from Mayhews over the years who insist that relationships with the extended family were overall cordial and that Stan had good relationships with his half-siblings. Apparently things were strained between Victor and Agnes in their later years, although they were buried together in the Church Cemetery at St. George Anglican Church where they attended together as a family.
In 1950 his status changed from assigned to "In Transition". He was in a lay capacity so this probably reflected a diminished need for him at Evangel, which was unquestionably his "home" church.
In 1951, Stan's mother Agnes Sadd (Breen) (Mailloux) joined Victor in death. Her later years were difficult and she struggled with physical and emotional challenges.
Stanley was no doubt very impacted by this as he was by all accounts very close to his mother. Agnes Sadd had a very challenging life marked by the death of her mother while she was young, death of her first husband, death of one child in infancy, and loss of another daughter in her later years. She had a large family and made an impact in the lives of many.
In 1951 until 1959 (the longest stretch of his life with one employer) Stan worked for the Ontario Motor Club selling Motor Club memberships.
1951 marked a significant time as well for Stan as he relocated to Walkerton Pentecostal Church in Bruce County where he was assigned as Pastor. His personal correspondence indicates that he took this assignment to hold only until another pastor could be assigned as during this time he went through challenges with his "nerves" and sought medical help to avoid a more serious disruption in his life. No doubt this is tied to his PTSD.
Other personal circumstances related to his eldest son Lloyd may have factored in as well, as the family was called upon to provide care as Lloyd's struggles increased.
1952 marked a return to Chatham and reassignment once again to Evangel Community Church. Stan and Liz also entered into a period of "empty nest" as their youngest son James, entered the Royal Canadian Air Force at the age of 18 for a 3 year enlistment and was stationed in Ottawa.
It appears to be about this time as well that Stan and Lizzie located to Lorne Avenue in Chatham where they both lived out the remainder of their lives.
Later Years
Stan was beginning at this point to enter his retirement years. It appears over time, due to his appeals to the pension board and support from doctors whose care he was under that his pension slowly increased which relieved some of the pressure he was under. As he moved into more formal retirement he continued with his wife Elizabeth to be very active in Church at Evangel Community Church in Chatham to spend time with his grandchildren.
As he entered the 1960s he was able to begin to slow down and he began to enjoy his time absent some of the pressure and stress that he experienced through his life. He became more active in veterans groups and developed the habit of walking daily which usually took him to places where he could enjoy a cup of coffee and visit with friends.
He enjoyed spending more time at home with Elizabeth and he often worked on crosswords.
I was born in 1962 and only knew Grandpa Breen until I was 13 years old. My family made it a habit to visit Grandma and Grandpa one weekend a month on average and I recall him always being in general good humor. He enjoyed playing with me and my brothers and always had pocket change for us for a visit to the drug store or to Dairy Queen which were within walking distance.
My sense of him was that he was a quiet man and introspective but I've been corrected in that by my older cousins who said he was actually quite animated and outgoing in the earlier days that they interacted with him.
In his religion, he was enthusiastic and enjoyed teaching more than anything, I am told. He enjoyed watching religious programming on Sunday Mornings before going to the local church. I recall him particularly enjoying Rex Humbard who broadcasted from Toledo Ohio.
He valued family and stability and never really moved for any great period of time far from his home towns of Comber and Chatham. He was generous in his hospitality and found humour in his daily life and even in his difficulties. His glass eye would often become a source of entertainment to his grandchildren as he would tease and entertain using it.
Sunday Dinners were especially memorable as Grandma Breen would make pies and cook meals for family and friends who would come by to visit.
On Monday, February 9, 1976 when Stanley was 79 years old, at his home, with his son-in-law Donald Hillman (Ann's husband), while Grandma and Ann went to a women's meeting at Church, he had a heart attack and passed away or was confirmed dead at the local Hospital. His funeral and graveside service gave testimony to the large impact he had in his community, his family and his church. He left 12 grandchildren, several great-grandchildren, many nephews and nieces and many friends who missed him.
He was buried on Thursday February 12, 1976 at the McDowell Cemetery near Comber and where many of his family and community were buried.
When George Stanley Breen was born on March 28, 1896, in Comber, Ontario, his father, Jones, was 34 and his mother, Agnes, was 26. He married Elizabeth Effie Whittal in 1920, in Kent, Ontario. They had four children in 13 years. He died on February 9, 1976, in Chatham, Ontario, at the age of 79, and was buried in Lakeshore, (formerly Tilbury West) Ontario.
McDowell Cemetery, Comber, Lakeshore Twp (formerly Tilbury West) Essex, Ontario, Canada.
